8.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Chile. Is California Next?

On April 1st, an 8.2-magnitude earthquake struct in the Pacific waters off the coast of northern Chile, triggering a 7-foot-high tsunami along with hundreds of smaller aftershocks. According to local news agencies, six people died and dozens more suffered injuries as a result of the South American earthquake.

News of Chile's recent earthquake serves as a bleak reminder of just how vulnerable we are to mother nature's grasp. California has experienced its own earthquakes in the past few weeks, including a 5.1-magnitude earthquake that struck outside the densely populated metropolitan areas of Los Angeles. Even Georgia and South Carolina have experienced shaking ground due to seismic activity.

It's not a matter of if a large earthquake will strike California, but rather when. On April 18, 1906, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck on the San Francisco fault line, killing 3,000 and causing an estimated $524 million worth of property damage. Since that time, California has experienced over a dozen more earthquakes registering 7.0 magnitude or higher.

Of course, geological experts continue to stress the dangers of living on the Ring of Fire -- a section of Earth that experienced high amounts of seismic activity, including volcanic eruptions and shifting of the tectonic plates. Seismic activity on the Ring of Fire is believed to have caused the massive 2011 tsunami off the coast of Japan that killed tens of thousands.

"Could be tomorrow, could be in 50 years; we do not know when it's going to occur. But the key point here is that this magnitude-8.2 is not the large earthquake that we were expecting for this area. We're actually still expecting potentially an even larger earthquake," said  seismologist Mike Simons when discussing the possibility of a larger earthquake striking Chile.

So, how can you prepare for an earthquake? For starters, it's important to have an emergency preparedness kit readily available inside your home, consisting of a minimum of 3 days worth of food and water, first aid supplies, compass, map, multipurpose tool, thermal blanket, waterproof matches, flashlight, batteries, and a radio (preferably hand-cracked model).

Another important step in preparing for an earthquake is to secure your home and its contents. The biggest hazard during an earthquake is the threat of falling objects. Ensuring shelves, fixtures and other items are securely attached to the walls will help reduce the chance of falling objects in the event of an earthquake.

Have you taken steps to prepare for a major earthquake?